Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
The Pride Parts 1 & 2
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People need what you know
You're a leader so you have to play along
Show the hand right or wrong
When you're feelin' that you know the way to turn
Either way still get burned
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
What makes you want to do the best you can?
What makes you a better man?
What makes you try again before too long?
What keeps you standing strong?
What makes you say the things you want to say
To make it a better day?
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
In The Isley Brothers' song "The Pride", the lyrics seem to be addressing politicians and leaders, cautioning them to be mindful of their pride and its influence on their decision-making. The opening lines suggest that those in power should approach their responsibilities with care and consider the needs of the people they serve. However, the chorus emphasizes the importance of pride in providing a sense of belonging and strength. The second verse asks what drives someone to do their best and become a better person, and the answer, according to the chorus, is pride.
It’s quite clear that the lyrics of "The Pride" are speaking to a specific type of leaders who are ambitious, driven, and perhaps a little too convinced of their own abilities. The cautionary tone of the first verse suggests that these leaders need to move forward carefully, rather than blindly throwing themselves into their work. The second verse seems to take a more positive spin on pride, exploring how it can be a motivating force for good.
Overall, the song may be encouraging leaders to embrace a more balanced approach to leadership, one that acknowledges the importance of both humility and pride. The lyrics may also be speaking to listeners more broadly, encouraging them to examine their own relationship to pride and its influence on their choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Politician come to power take it slow
When you gain leadership, proceed with caution.
People need what you know
Your followers are counting on you to share your knowledge with them.
You're a leader so you have to play along
As a leader, you have to navigate the game while remaining true to yourself.
Show the hand right or wrong
Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, whether they are right or wrong.
When you're feelin' that you know the way to turn
Trust your intuition when you think you know the direction to take.
Either way still get burned
Regardless of your decision, you may still face criticism or negative consequences.
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
Pride in your accomplishments and status can give you a sense of belonging and importance.
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Your pride in yourself and your work can give you the strength to persevere.
What makes you want to do the best you can?
What drives you to do your very best?
What makes you a better man?
How do you strive to improve yourself?
What makes you try again before too long?
What motivates you to keep trying, even after setbacks or failures?
What keeps you standing strong?
What sustains your resilience and determination to succeed?
What makes you say the things you want to say
What inspires you to speak up and advocate for yourself or others?
To make it a better day?
To improve the world around you and make each day better?
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
Feeling proud of your contributions can give you a sense of belonging.
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Your sense of pride can provide you with strength and determination.
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Isn't it compelling to reflect on the role that pride plays in our lives?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
Pride is what you feel inside, motivating and sustaining you.
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
Ultimately, pride is at the heart of what drives and inspires us.
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
Pride in your work and accomplishments is a powerful motivator.
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
When you dissect the reasons why you do what you do, pride emerges as a significant factor.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Christopher Jasper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cesarfsaenz
Politician come to power take it slow
People need what you know
You're a leader so you have to play along
Show the hand right or wrong
When you're feelin' that you know the way to turn
Either way still get burned
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
What makes you want to do the best you can?
What makes you a better man?
What makes you try again before too long?
What keeps you standing strong?
What makes you say the things you want to say
To make it a better day?
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
Jeffrey Chandler
A very powerful and serious song, please don't forget the words. The Isley's can fill empty minds with wisdom, and deep understanding of our society. Think about it!
Jacqueline Joy
Let me rephrase this is one of the best songs ever by The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers Are Awesome
1stP3&10
Boy. Every time I hear bass from the 70s, I get a rush of happy. Smile suddenly on my face. lol
Sheldon Ingram
1977
Faustina Taylor
1969
Kirk Dilworth
In the pocket baby, I love it it's the pride
Daniel Dow
One my favorite cuts all time still jamming this in 2022 !! 😎
Tracy Sullivan
This joint has my adrenaline pumpin’ to fullest speed!!! 🎶🎼🎧
cesarfsaenz
Politician come to power take it slow
People need what you know
You're a leader so you have to play along
Show the hand right or wrong
When you're feelin' that you know the way to turn
Either way still get burned
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
What makes you want to do the best you can?
What makes you a better man?
What makes you try again before too long?
What keeps you standing strong?
What makes you say the things you want to say
To make it a better day?
It's the pride that makes you feel that you belong
It's the pride that keeps you strong
Don't you think it's fascinating?
Don't you think it's fascinating?
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
It's the pride that you feel it's the pride
(When you finally break it all down it's the pride)
Satch Flight
relevant today.